Football

FIFA eyes Iraq as replacement if Iran opts to withdraw from World Cup

Iran's place at the men's World Cup in three months' time was put in doubt Monday amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament's co-host the United States. Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the U.S. - two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle - from June 15-26. Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games. The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials. It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at U.S. allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition. "What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope," said Iran's top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation. It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to sen

Real Madrid slip up, fail to close gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona

Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martin Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday. The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona. Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind. Soria turned over a shot from Arda Guler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal. Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead. A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out. It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window. Madrid continued to dominate possessi

Serie A relegation race tightens after Fiorentina, Pisa drop points

Fiorentina went down to Udinese 3-0 and Pisa lost to Bologna 1-0 on an unhappy night for the relegation-threatened sides in Serie A. In Udine, the home side went ahead after 10 minutes when Christian Kabasele nodded in a Nicolo Zaniolo corner. Udinese's leading goal-scorer Kelman Davis made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the second half. And Adam Buksa added a third in stoppage time to decisively halt Fiorentina's recent revival and torpedo its hopes of winning three games in a row for the first time this season. It remained fifth from bottom of the league, but equal on points with Cremonese and Lecce, the club occupying the third relegation spot. One of the two teams below it, Pisa, lost at home to Bologna and remained joint last with Verona. Pisa had three shots on target while Bologna had only one, but it was that 90th-minute strike from Jens Odgaard that decided the match. The Danish forward hit the net from around 25 meters out to break the home fans' hearts and ensure Pis

US midfielder Weston McKennie extends Juventus contract till 2030

United States midfielder Weston McKennie had his contract at Juventus extended on Monday so that he can spend a decade with the Turin club. The new deal expires in 2030 - 10 years after McKennie signed with Juventus. The extension was announced by Juventus and comes three months before a home World Cup for McKennie. It also comes with a reported salary increase from 2.5 million euros ($3 million) to 4 million euros ($4.7 million) per season, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport. The 27-year-old McKennie has 26 goals and provided 26 assists in 220 appearances for Juventus. He has also become a favorite of new Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who appreciates McKennie's versatility - even fielding him at striker recently. McKennie has eight goals since Spalletti was hired in October - more than any other player in the squad.

Will Iran boycott 2026 FIFA World Cup in US? Here's what IFF president says

Iran's potential absence from the tournament comes amid rising military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel

How the Premier League could see 7 clubs play UCL football next season

England is strongly positioned to earn an additional berth through UEFA's coefficient ranking system.

AFC delays West Region Champions League matches after attacks on Iran

The Asian Football Confederation has postponed continental club championship playoffs scheduled in the Middle East this week in response to the US and Israel attacks on Iran. Soccer's Asian governing body issued a statement Sunday saying the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the West Region will be rescheuled. The AFC Champions League 2 and AFC Challenge League quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the West zone will also be postponed. No new dates have been set. Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club Al-Nassr is among the teams involved in the Asian Champions League Two competition. Matches in the East Region across all of the AFC's continental championships will continue as scheduled, organizers said. "The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans," the AFC said in a statement. The AFC is hosting the

Injured Mbappe nearing return as Madrid plan ahead after Benfica victory

Real Madrid is hoping Kylian Mbappe will be back in "a matter of days" after he missed its 2-1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs. The result sent Madrid to the round of 16 with a 3-1 aggregate result. Mbappe was not included in the squad for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium because of a left knee injury he has been nursing for some time. "He had to leave training and had been feeling some discomfort," Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said. "We spoke with the doctors and with him, and we agreed that the best thing was for him to stop for a while. Now we'll have to wait. Hopefully, it's just a matter of days." The France star, who scored nine goals in his last eight matches for Madrid, was replaced in attack by Gonzalo Garcia. The other forwards in the starting lineup were Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior, who scored the team's second goal in the 80th minute. Madrid's forwards on the bench included included Franco Mastantuono and Brahim ...

PSG start Hakimi against Monaco in UCL a day after rape case trial ruling

Defender Achraf Hakimi was included in Paris Saint-Germain's starting lineup in the Champions League playoff return leg against Monaco on Tuesday, a day after being ordered to stand trial in a rape case. A date for the trial has not been set. Hakimi's lawyer Fanny Colin said she will appeal the judge's decision. The 27-year-old Morocco international has denied any wrongdoing and said on X that he "calmly awaits" a trial. "Today, an accusation of rape is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything shows that it is false," he posted on X on Tuesday. "This is as unjust for the innocent as it is for genuine victims." PSG coach Luis Enrique was asked ahead of the Monaco match about Hakimi's case. "This is in the hands of the justice system," Luis Enrique said. PSG leads 3-2 from the first leg.

FIFA gives green light for Scotland fans to sport sporrans at World Cup

Scotland supporters can wear their kilts in all their customary glory at the World Cup. The Scottish Football Association told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it had reached agreement with FIFA for sporrans the traditional fur or leather pouch worn in front of the kilt to be permitted at games despite contravening security limits for entry into stadiums in the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Canada and Mexico. Scotland has been drawn in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti with two games in Boston and one in Miami. "FIFA have confirmed that sporrans will be permitted into the stadiums following the standard search and inspection procedures and will continue to work together with the Scottish FA to educate their matchday staff as they prepare to welcome fans to Boston and Miami," Scottish FA spokesperson Graeme Thewliss said. Officials are restricting World Cup ticket holders to only bringing clear see-through bags, or small bags tha

Bad Bunny wearing Pele's 1966 World Cup jacket draws global attention

A jacket worn by football legend Pele in the 1966 World Cup has become a hit among fans of pop singer Bad Bunny since he borrowed it from a collector's sports merchandise store and used it in his recent concerts in Sao Paulo, in his first performances on Brazilian soil. Bad Bunny's tribute to the three-time World Cup winner, who died in 2022 at age 82, also included a change in the lyrics of the song MONACO, sung by the Puerto Rican artist as "scoring a goal after Pele and Maradona" instead of "Messi and Maradona." Cassio Brandao, the owner of the Alambrado Futebol e Cultura store, seeks historical soccer memorabilia and jerseys and has more than 7,000 of them. He owns 115 items that belonged to Pele and was involved in Bad Bunny's choice for the jacket. "He took very good care of the piece. It came back only with sweat, wet with sweat, but it was perfect, in the same condition. They were very careful. It returned in the same suitcase," Brandao said. Pele's official Instagram later

Premier League: Can Tottenham Hotspur actually face relegation this season?

Tottenham Hotspur seem trapped in reverse. Igor Tudor was appointed to spark improvement after Thomas Frank's tenure, but there was little evidence of a turnaround in this performance.

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal live match time, streaming

Across North London, Mikel Arteta is under pressure after Arsenal's frustrating 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The result dented their title momentum, especially with Man City close behind.

Greenwood wastes penalty chance as Marseille go down narrowly to Brest

Habib Beye's reign as Marseille coach got off to a losing start as Ligue 1's top goal-scorer Mason Greenwood missed a penalty in Brest's 2-0 win. Beye replaced Roberto De Zerbi last week after a miserable run that saw Marseille exit the Champions League and lose to archrival Paris Saint-Germain 5-0. But the former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender could not stop the rot that threatens Marseille's hopes of a European spot next year. Two first-half headers from Ludovic Ajorque put Brest in the driving seat and he could have had a third had a fierce shot not rattled the bar on Friday. Marseille came into the match more in the second half but Greenwood missed a golden chance to pull it back into the game seven minutes from time. He was brought down by Daouda Guindo but his spot kick was well saved by Brest goalkeeper Gregoire Coudertt. The result left Marseille winless in four Ligue 1 games and in fourth place, five points behind Lyon, which has a game in hand against Strasbourg on

Will Bruno Fernandes post the best-ever midfielder stats in Premier League?

With Fernandes rediscovering his creative best, the question now is whether the Portuguese midfielder can equal or even surpass that landmark.

Brentford progress to FA Cup fifth round after Macclesfield own goal

Brentford will face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after dispatching Macclesfield 1-0 on Monday, an own goal ending the fairy tale run of the sixth-tier giantkiller. The Macclesfield part-timers knocked out cup holder Crystal Palace in the last round and were hailed for pulling off one of the greatest shocks in the competition's long history. But they could not match Brentford, which progressed thanks to a 70th minute own goal from Sam Heathcote. The big defender dived to cut out a cross from Aaron Hickey but instead diverted the ball past his own keeper. It was a cruel denouement for Macclesfield, which held the Premier League club throughout an even first half before tiring in the second 45 minutes. "I couldn't be any prouder," Macclesfield coach John Rooney told TNT Sports. "The lads were outstanding and the shape was really good. We train two times a week and we've put that performance on against a Premier League side." The fifth-round tie will take place at West H

11 killed, 12 injured as gunmen open fire at soccer field in central Mexico

Gunmen opened fire at a soccer field in central Mexico on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 12, authorities said. Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto said in a statement posted to social platforms that the gunmen arrived at the end of a soccer match. Ten people at the scene and one died later at a hospital. The mayor said a woman and a minor were among the wounded. Prieto said the attack was part of a "crime wave" in the city and appealed to President Claudia Sheinbaum for help to control the violence. The Guanajuato state prosecutor's office said it was investigating and coordinating with federal authorities to reinforce security in the area. Guanajuato had Mexico's highest homicide total last year. A local gang, Santa Rosa de Lima, has been battling the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. "Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authorities, something they are not going to achieve," the mayor said. Overall, Mexico's government says the country's

Premier League teams no longer dominate football's global rich rankings

English teams have slipped out of the top four of Deloitte's Money League for the first time in 29 years, according to an annual survey of the highest revenue generating football clubs globally

Man United FA Cup exit sparks debate over interim coach choice ahead

Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton. At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team and 13-time FA Cup winner fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd. Interim coach Darren Fletcher admitted the 20-time English champion was not in a good moment, but said it was too soon to write the season off with Champions League qualification still achievable. It's probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because they've been winning cups and challenging for the Premier League, he said. Don't waste the season. That would be the challenge that I would set. That's the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year. Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko's late header was only a consolati

Senegal see off resilient 10-man Mali to advance into AFCON semifinals

Iliman Ndiaye's first-half strike was enough for Senegal to beat 10-man Mali 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal on Friday. Ndiaye poked the ball home from close range in the 27th minute after Mali 'keeper Djigui Diarra let Krpin Diatta's cross slip through his fingers to land at Ndiaye's feet. The winter rain which has soaked the tournament started to fall early at Grand Stade de Tanger and it would not have helped Diarra's grip on the ball. Mali captain Yves Bissouma was already booked for a foul on Sadio Man as his team made a courageous start, and the Eagles' hopes took a major blow when he was shown a second yellow card before the break for a foul on Idrissa Gueye. Referee Abongile Tom had already sent off Woyo Coulibaly in Mali's previous game, a penalty shootout win over Tunisia, and Bissouma's sending off represented the team's third sending off in as many games. Senegal missed further chances with Diarra saving from Man in stoppage time. The 2021 champion awa